Currently, dog owners watch a video on voice and sight control to earn a "green tag" -- allowing their dog off-leash in certain areas. There was no renewal requirement.

However, under the new rules, the 30,000+ green-tag holders have to take an in-person class and renew that license annually.

"Current Voice and Sight Tag Program participants must comply with the new program requirements by Jan. 1, 2015 to continue to have voice and sight control privileges," officials explained on the Voice & Sight Tag Program website. "If you’ve registered for a Voice and Sight Tag in 2014 or before, it will expire at the end of the 2014 calendar year."